GRANTS, NM – The Cibola Arts Council has patiently waited for a new director. Patience has been rewarded with Eric Sedillos who has filled the vacancy.
The new director has a personal philosophy of inclusiveness and wants to form relationships with as many segments of the county as possible.
Sedillos has a fondness for the Native community and has long-established friendships with some members of the Laguna Pueblo tribe that go back forty years.
Sedillos explained his short-term intentions for the council, which include increasing the board to eleven members. To fill the additional positions Sedillos wants to add members from Cibola’s Native American tribes, Laguna Pueblo, Acoma Pueblo, and the Navajo. Two candidates from each tribe, one male and one female, will be invited to join the Cibola Arts Council Board of Directors.
Brian Antonio of Acoma Pueblo has al- ready been added to the council.
Sedillos also wants to update the council’s website, Facebook page, and Instagram site.
“Nobody knows who we are,” he stated. He hopes to change that and is considering two billboards, one traveling east and one west.
The new director has ambitious plans to increase the visibility of the Arts Council. Included on his agenda, Sedillos wants to visit all the schools in Cibola County to invite them to the Double Six Gallery Art Camps. He envisions the Art Camps being divided into age groups.Ramah’s art galleries will not be left out. Sedillos plans to arrange traveling exhibitions with the two galleries.
Sedillos’ education and career highlights prove that he has the experience to enrich the council. His resume’ includes: • 1980 – Graduated from Grants High School where he was the first non-Indian to join the Indian Club.
• Attended the Tepayac Center for Action and Contemplation, a Franciscan Seminary in Albuquerque for four and one-half years.
• He graduated from University of New Mexico in 1987 with a degree in Recreational Education. Next, he found employment with the university in the Budgeting and Finance Department.
• Also, for UNM, Sedillos filled the position of Associate Director for Annual Giving for scholarships and various funds for equipment programs and UNM Endowment.
• He next filled the position of Interim Director of Annual Giving.
• Vice President of New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation.
• Director of Development for Catholic Charities in Albuquerque.
• Worked for two years for Roman Catholic for the Diocese of Austin, Texas.
• Attended Le Corden Bleu and Escoffier Culinary School, in Austin, Texas.
• For eleven years he worked professionally in pastry and baking.
• Indian Pueblo Cultural Center for two years with Pueblo chefs.
It is evident that when the Sedillos says, “I am always learning, and will never stop learning,” these are words he lives by.